IT is appointed for all Men, good and bad, once to dye, Nature requi­ring it as a Debt since the Fall of Adam; but the Scandal of Dying, is to dye as an Evil Doer, when the Prudence of the Magistrate in dispen­sing the Law, is forced to cut off some as Rotten Branches, that if lon­ger permitted, would devour their Fellow-Members, and by infecting the rest, bring all Order into Confusion, and Kingdoms to Destruction: and, one would think, if the Severities of the Law, with the Miseries, and Disappointment of being forcibly deprived of that Life which Men gene­rally covet could not deterr Rational Creatures from splitting upon those Rocks; yet the frequent Examples, and Executions of diverse, at almost each Assize and Sessions, should at length so awaken the living Malefactors, as to terrifie them into a Reformation. But, an Example to the contrary being now before us, I shall add no more of this kind, but proceed to ac­quaint you, That eight Persons received Sentence of Death at the Assi­zes held for the County of Surrey, in the Burrough of Southwark, on Sa­turday the 15th. of March, 1683. One of which, viz. Margaret Floyd, be­ing reprieved upon Pleading her Belly, and by a Jury of Women found to be with quick Child; three others, viz. Elizabeth Tymon, John Broman, and John Norwood, upon the humble Application of their Relations and Friends, are also reprieved for some short time. The rest were, pursuant to their Sentence, Executed, at the usual Place of Execution for that County, at Kennington Common, on Wednesday the 19th of the said Month of March, 1683. A more particular Account of each of the said Persons, take as fol­loweth, Viz,

Rice Evans of Kennington in the Parish of Lambeth, having been Indict­ed for Killing his Wife; upon the Tryal it appeared, that the said Evans keeping several Cows, and his Wise trading as a Milk-Woman; but hap­ning to lye in Child-bed, he in a Week, or two, or before she was in a con­dition to rise, forced her to go out and sell the Milk: also, upon her selling a Calf cheaper than he thought it worth, or some other very little Provocation, he so kick'd and abus'd her, that by reason of his said ill Usage, she in a few days died. The Midwife who laid her particularly deposing, that the Blows he had given her, and unseemly forcing her to work, was the cause of her Death; he was therefore found Guilty of Will­full Murder, and received Sentence of Death accordingly: But both at his Tryal, and before his Condemnation, when he was ask'd what he had to say, why Judgment should not pass upon him to dye according to Law, he was in one Story, that the Midwife and the rest had sworn falsely against him, and that he was not guilty: in which Asseveration, he continued af­terwards in the Prison; declaring, in his way of speaking (being a Welch­man) to all who came to see him, that he was an Innocent Man, and par­ticularly to several Ministers of the Church of England, that either by the Sheriffs Procurement, or their own Inclinations, used all possible Indea­vours to work in him, and the rest of the Condemned Malefactors, a Con­fession of their Crimes, and a Sence of their sad Condition. With which the said Evans did not seem to be much affected, but remained in a kind of discontented, careless manner, or like a Person stupified and igno­rant.

Notice being sent to seven of them that they must prepare to dye on Wednesday the 19th of March, herein before mentioned: and that time drawing near, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administred to them, after which, Rice Evans used many fresh Asseverations, saying to the Mini­ster, What, Man, do you think I will damn my own Soul to deny the Truth now I have received God's Holy Sacrament? No, I will not do it. I tell thee Man, I am not Guilty; but they have maliciously sworn against me, and I must dye wrongfully: I have not kill'd my Wife, the Nurse who look'd to her would not swear it.

The Night before they were Executed a Reprieve came for Elizabeth Tymon, who was condemned to dye for Man-slaughter, in killing her Daugh­ter-in-Law at Croydon; and also John Norwood the Oat-meal-man, of Croy­don, who was convicted upon the Oaths of two poor People who swore a Robbery against him. In the Morning, before Execution, another Re­prieve was produced for John Broman. So only four remaining, they were put into a Cart together, about Ten in the Fore-noon, and drawn with three Horses to Kennington Common.

The three Divines who visited them in the Prison rid by in a Coach, and when come to the Place of Execution, went all up into the Cart, and renewed their Endeavours to produce a Confession in the Prisoners, and prepare them for their Death; one of them at least 15 or 20 times pressing Rice Evans with all possible Earnestness, how necessary it was for him to Confess, and repent of the Cruelty to his Wife, to which he at length ve­ry passionately answered, What, do you think I am a Mad-man, to deny it now I am going to dye, if I was guilty? I tell you man, I am not guil­ty of the Blood laid to my Charge: It's true, I am a Welchman, and have been angry sometimes, but I have done no Murder. He being particular­ly askt if he did not beat his Wife at all, he said, I cannot say but I have strike her about a Year since, but not after her Lying-in, as they malici­ously [Page 3]swear against me. My Wife was a green Woman, and might get her Death by Cold; but I have not kill'd her. I forgive them all that swore falsly against me, and pray God to forgive all their Souls, and give them a sight of their Sins, and lay not my Blood to them who they have wronged, I am not guilty of the Blood, as the Nurse can tell, who could not swear it. Using several such Expressions in his Welsh Tone.

It was observable of him, that he had procured a very white new Shirt, made of Callico, large enough to come over all his Cloaths, which he wore uppermost, and would be hang'd in it, as is supposed, in Token of his In­nocency.

Margaret Corbet, a very Young Woman of Wandsworth, in the County of Surrey, having been Indicted for murdering her Infant Bastard-child, and being tryed, convicted, and condemned for the same, also utterly denied the said Murder; and in the Prison, after Condemnation, spent her Time in a very careless, sottish manner, and much of it in Sleeping: when at any time she was admonished to rouze her self, and think of the short time she had to live, she would take little or no notice of such Admonition: and when the Ministers urged her very hard concerning the Murder of her Child, and told her what an unnatural Sin it was to destroy the Fruit of her own Body, with other such like Expressions; if she could no ways a­void to give an Answer, she very stiffly told them, she was not guilty or had kill'd any Child; in which dejected, careless, and stupified humour, she continued till she came to the Place of Execution, (being in truth but a very ignorant, poor Creature, hardly capable of understanding what the Ministers said to her,) but being urged how she expected to be saved, she answered, That she hoped God would have Mercy upon her; and did at length confess that she had kill'd her Child, by cutting its Throat: exclaim­ing a little against Young-men, and the Folly of Young-Women, being de­luded by them.

Elizabeth Ford alias Jackson, was Tryed, and found guilty of stealing Goods to the Value of five Pounds: she was an Elderly Woman, and had for many Years followed the like Trade, being a kind of Commander a­mongst Pick-pockets and Thieves. After her Condemnation, she proceed­ed to act with great Rudeness to her Fellow-Prisoners, disturbing them in their Preparations for another World; which she continued to do untill her Husband brought her word, that no Interest that he could use, would prevail for a Reprieve: she then seeing there was no help, but she must dye, became more moderate in her Carriage, and bewail'd her sinful Life.

When drawn to the place of Execution, she at the last made a free Con­fession of the several Offences by her committed, that she was Guilty of the Fact for which she now suffered; that had she been Executed several Years ago, it had been justly; that she went out of God's way by forsaking her Husband, and then God forsook her, so that she run into all manner of Wickedness. She earnestly advised all Women to be constant to their Hus­bands, and not defile their Marriage-Bed, which was the first Occasion of her taking those Courses that brought her to this Shameful Death. She how­ever very sensibly declared, That she hoped for Salvation in the Mercy of God, by the Merits of Jesus Christ: and before she was Executed, she con­fess'd to have had many Accomplices in her wicked Course; and by Name accused one that lives in the City of London to have been guilty with her of some very great Crime; whose Name, and Place of Abode; was taken by the Sheriff.

Katharine Binks was a Young Woman that had been drawn into ill Courses and Company; who taking a particular Kindness for one Ralph Baldwin, with whom it was reported she was to be Married: in the mean time Baldwin so behaved himself, as to be sent to Bridewell; and whilst there, either that she might get him out of Prison, or some other ways help him, she so acted, as that they the said Ralph Baldwin and Katharine Binks, were Indicted for breaking into the Dwelling House of William Al­len, in the Parish of St. Olives Southwark, on the 30th. of January last, at night, and stealing from thence one silver Tankard, one silver Caudle-Cup, one silver Beaker, six Pounds in Money, and some other Things: but upon the Tryal it appearing, that Baldwin was Prisoner in Bridewel at the time of the Robbery, and that Katharine Binks brought the said Plate and Money to him thither, where it was seized, he was acquitted; but she the said Katharine Binks found Guilty, and Sentenced to suffer Death; spending the remaining time of her being in Prison, with much Penitence, reading the Scriptures, and giving heed to such wholsome Advice and [...] ­structions as was administred to her; receiving the Sacrament with the rest, and increasing in her said Behaviour, to the last; expressing her self at the Place of Execution, like a true Penitent, confessing several Passages of her Ill Life, and particularly the Fact for which she suff'red this Death, bewail­ing her great Unworthiness to find Mercy with God Almighty at the last Moment, and when she had no longer opportunity to sin. But yet how­ever, in a very sensible manner made passionate Application that her Soul might be washed from all its Impurity in the Blood of Jesus Christ, and that God would receive it into his infinite Mercy notwithstanding all her Un­worthiness.

Each of the said four Prisoners having by the indefatigable Industry and spiritual Assistance of the before-mentioned three Divines (who all stood in the Care with them till ready to be drawn away) disburdened them­selves; and being made sensible of that Eternity they were just entring in­to, each also earnestly desiring the Prayers of Ministers and People for their happy Passage, two of the Ministers (first one and then another) prayed with them very affectionately; after that, three Staves of the 25th Psalm was sung, beginning at the 10th Verse: which being ended, the Prisoners discovered the Advantage they had received thereby, to the great Incou­ragement of those spiritual Labourers: the Ministers then came out of the Cart, and it being drawn away, the said Condemned Persons were Execu­ted, by hanging till they were dead.

When cut down, the Body of Kice Evens was put into a black Coffin, and carried on Mens Shoulders, to be buried by his Wife in Lambeth Church-Yard.

Elizabeth Ford, alias Jackson, Margaret Corbet, and Katharine Binks, were brought back to be buried at Newington Butts; the former of the three had a Coffin, the others buried in their Cloaths.